We are seeing the beginnings of a continuing trend of
ever expanding technology. The latest incidents at the middle school with cell
phones, iPODs, and digital cameras has the administration reconsidering current
policy. However, until new policies are in effect from the county level, here is
a review of what is in place at TCMS and how it needs to be enforced.
We know that misuse of technology in the classroom is
an automatic loss of computer and technology privileges for a minimum of a
grading period (9 weeks). The teacher can refer the student for the misuse and
then teachers are notified of the ban on the student.
The current cell phone policy at Taylor County Middle
School is as follows:
Cell phones of any kind are not permitted for the use
during the school day and are not even permitted in the building except within
the lockers. Even then the phone should be turned off and never used except
after school. In other words, if cell phones are even in the building they
should never be seen or heard until after the close of school. When a student is
in the school building and needs to use a phone they should always use the
office phone for their important, necessary calls. Unnecessary calls should not
be made either in the office or on any cell phone. The use of cell phones by
middle school students should be restricted to only after school activities when
a contact needs to be made with parents and the office is closed for the
evening.
*******If a student violates the above policy then a
teacher should immediately confiscate the phone and bring it to the office. (tag
the phone with the student's name)
1st offense: Phone is confiscated and returned to the
student at the end of the day!
2nd offense: Phone is confiscated and kept in the
office until a conference is held with the student and parent to review the
current cell phone policy.
